Category: Contemporary

Title: Heartstopper (Vol.1 & 2)Author: Alice OsemanNumber of pages: 278 & 315 (paperback edition)Good things about this book: This is one of the sweetest coming of age stories I’ve ever read.Bad things about this book: Nothing. Alice spoils us with new content very often.Do I recommend it? Yes, always.Rate: 5+++/5 (this is a fav series)

I haven’t posted a review in MONTHS! I’ve read tons of books but I’ve also been through a few reading slumps. These months have been weird. If you follow me on instagram, my bookstagram account is very active and I update it daily.

So I got the second volume of Heartstopper yesterday and, even if I’m up to date with the webcomic, being a patron and all that, I decided to read it immediately. I just love these kids so much. They are relatable, have real problems, aren’t romanticized in any way, they just are teenagers having issues you may or may not have had when you were in your teens.

In the first volume we saw how Charlie and Nick started being friends, best friends, and how Nick started feeling a deeper connection. In volume 2 we see how this deeper thing is explored and how this revelation will affect both Charlie and Nick. Knowing what is going to happen, I’m calm about everything, but I still worry about them. They are adorable and should be protected. The bullies can just go away and never come back. Why do bullies exist, btw? I don’t get it!

At the end of volume 2 there was the special chapter of how two other very sweet characters met: Darcy and Tara. It was so cute! I want more.

Please follow Alice Oseman’s instagram, support her, support her work, and read her books. They are worth it! Tomorrow there’s going to be the title and cover reveal of he 4th book! I’m excited!!!!

Title: Play It AgainAuthor: Aidan WayneRelease date: April 22nd 2019Number of pages: 288 (kindle edition)Good things about this book: It was simple and enjoyable.Bad things about this book: Too many “how to get famous” chat.Do I recommend it? Yes, it was fun.Rate: 4/5

This was such a pleasant book with no drama, quite cheesy, and just plain nice. Exactly what to read when you want things to start and end well, with no unnecessary obstacles!

Dovid’s name was distracting a bit because I still don’t know if I’m pronouncing it well in my head. I can relate a bit because my name is mispronounced and miswritten a lot!

I liked the calm and quiet of the romance. Just like it’d happen in real life. Getting to really know each other, understanding that you care way more than just a friend, exploring what this means, accepting the risks, being just happy to have each other, no matter the distance.

There were a little too many “how to be famous on the internet” chat: they were constantly talking about what to do to be rich and famous. At some point I was rolling my eyes because we didn’t get much info about the characters but now I know exactly what to do to earn money making youtube videos.

I’d recommend it.

All in all, this was a pretty book. Simple, the way I like it. Sometimes you just want to enjoy a book with nice characters, having a drama free life, and smile a little at the happy ending.

“If someone asks you how you are, you are meant to say FINE. You are not meant to say that you cried yourself to sleep last night because you hadn’t spoken to another person for two consecutive days. FINE is what you say.”

Title: Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely FineAuthor: Gail HoneymanNumber of pages: 386 (hardcover edition)Good things about this book: Great story, great characters, great book.Bad things about this book: Nothing, I enjoyed all of it.Do I recommend it? Always.Rate: 5/5

“Although it’s good to try new things and to keep an open mind, it’s also extremely important to stay true to who you really are.”

Truly captivating. Once I started reading it was hard to stop because I wanted to know more about Eleanor. I wanted her to have the best life. She deserved it. I loved Raymond and Sammy even if he wasn’t on page much.

I loved how the book ended. At first I didn’t know how I wanted it to end, I wasn’t sure. The more I went on with the book, the more unsure I was. But the book surprised me with a great ending. It left me smiling. Happy. Satisfied. Hopeful.

This review is very short because I’ve been struggling with writing them. I’m not inspired. This book made me feel and think so much and I don’t know how to put my thoughts into words. I guess you just have to read it, right? Wink wink!

“I— I wish I could see things like you do.”
“But then you wouldn’t see things like you do,” Josy said. “And then there would be two of me and none of you, and that wouldn’t be so good.”
“It wouldn’t?”
“Nope. Because I like you just the way you are.”

Title: How to Be a Movie StarAuthor: T.J. KluneSeries: How to Be #2Number of pages: 350 (kindle edition)Good things about this book: Perfection, nothing to addBad things about this book: I said PERFECTION.Do I recommend it? Of course, I love Klune’s books.Rate: 5/5+++

“Sometimes you need to hide away from the rest of the world. And it’s okay to do that, just as long as you don’t forget the world is waiting for you when you’re done.”

All the stars, all of them!

ALL HAIL TJ KLUNE!!

I laughed so much, cried, smiled like crazy! This book was everything I expected and more, so much more!!! I’ll have to listen to the audiobook just like I did with How To Be A Normal Person. I need more of all these characters, I already miss them. The four text messages at the end?? How perfect were they???? My heart is exploding with joy!

There isn’t much to say about this book. It’s about a bearded demisexual stoner hipster who wants to be a movie star, and while he is working on his dream he falls in friendship with a monster porn author that’s more anxiety than man. I read one chapter and I already loved EVERYTHING about this book.

If everyone just talked about what they were feeling instead of hiding it, things would be so much easier. Miscommunication is such a waste of time.

It was so honest, so true. Josy is the sweetest characters I’ve seen in books in a very long time, if not ever. He may not be “normal” in the weird way people qualifies who is normal and who isn’t, but there isn’t anything wrong with him. He is sincere, he says what he thinks when he thinks it, he tries his best and doesn’t give up. He made a family for himself when the one he was born into decided he was too much to handle.

All the characters were essential to this story, to make it as relatable as it was, as hilarious, important and amazing! Quincy and his mental health, Gustavo and his adventures with the internet (OMG the phone call to the customer service was gold!), Casey and his unconditional love, even Casanova Xander. All of these characters, all of them, gave me so much joy. I was smiling so much. I laughed so much that my mom kept saying “wow, it’s really funny that book I see”. Yes, mother, it is.

Title: Death Prefers BlondesAuthor: Caleb RoehrigNumber of pages: 448 (hardcover edition)Good things about this book: A YA Ocean’s 8 meets Gossip Girl.Bad things about this book: Over the top as usual but that’s not a bad thing for me.Do I recommend it? I always recommend Caleb Roehrig’s books.Rate: 5/5

“When you’re done, would you like to maybe go for a walk?”
“A walk? How Pride and Prejudice of you!”

Another win for Caleb. Loved it: the story, the characters, the plans, the twists, EVERYTHING! I love how they were obviously all paired up but I didn’t mind it, not one bit. They were all lethal cinnamon rolls and I love them all!

This story had everything it needed to be an over the top, teenagers do things they shouldn’t do, people are rude and evil for stupid reasons, kind of story. And I live for it. Teenage criminals in drag, getting away with super dangerous heists! I had my heart in my throat for them, afraid things were going to get ugly, as they usually go in these situations.

The characters were relatable, real. Diverse! I love so much a book with diversity. Margo is my new bisexual princess! You go, girl! Each character had a story to tell, and so much love to give. I wanted to give each of them all the love they deserved. You know I can’t help but care about struggling characters. I’m a mother at heart and all these characters are my children.

I won’t reveal anything of the plot because I went in knowing nothing and it was the best experience I could get. Do it!

Pretty sweet graphic novel with tons of delicious food that made me hungry at every page I turned. Young love, great food, some disaster, realization, mistakes, misunderstandings, life. Just life. And I liked all of it. From beginning to end.

I can’t get into details because this is a short graphic novel, things happen fast and end fast. You’ll just have to trust me and read it because it’s pretty cute and it deserves some love.

Title: The WhispersAuthor: Greg HowardNumber of pages: 256 (kindle edition)Good things about this book: The story was so sweet and not predictable.Bad things about this book: I can’t think of any, I enjoyed this little book a lot.Do I recommend it? Yes.Rate: 4/5

Look at me crying all the tears. I know I read this book was for fans of Bridge to Terabithia, and I still was surprised when the book was sad. I should have known better! It was exactly like that time I put on Netflix the movie I Fight Giants, thinking it was a movie about a girl fighting giants, and ended up crying all the tears I had inside me.

This book started with Riley being interviewed by Frank, asking him questions about the day his mother disappeared. I felt both sad and frustrated because Riley wasn’t telling him the whole truth. Why wouldn’t you do it if it helps find your mom? I was shaking my head hard, trying to remember what it meant being 13 and afraid. And you know what? I don’t remember. It’s been 20 years and the only thing that I remember is that of course I didn’t always tell the whole truth to grown ups. But what if the truth would’ve helped find someone I love? I would have told the truth, I’m almost sure of it.

But 13 years old don’t really know the weight of things, not really. They don’t understand how a simple detail that you think unimportant, can change everything. He is young, unexperienced, confused and afraid. Riley has a lot going on for him and I was saddened by his situation. I rooted for him to find the whispers, little fairies from tales his mom told him that could grant wishes in exchange for gifts.

The story is not as simple as it seemed, as I thought it would be. It was frustrating, infuriating, sad, and also hopeful. I didn’t get what I thought I was going to get and I’m happy for it. I read a beautiful and sweet story about a boy trying to understand his place in the world, to understand himself, and to get back the only person he thinks has his back.

The cover made me notice the book, so thank you cover for making me read this unique and heartbreaking story.

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